Burke: State needs innovative policies to spur job creation

MARSHFIELD – In her campaign for the governor’s office, Democratic challenger Mary Burke has criss-crossed central Wisconsin to attend listening sessions at local businesses, including a Tuesday morning tour of Marshfield Clinic and its facilities.

At each site, Burke said she has learned more about the concerns and issues businesses, industries and workers are facing. Throughout her travels, the recurring issue is jobs, she said.

“In the last three years, Wisconsin has been ninth out of the 10 Midwestern states in terms of job growth,” Burke said.

The state needs a comprehensive plan to address economic development that will foster businesses and industries creating job growth, said Burke, who calls her plan “Invest for Success.”

“When you see an economy that is not creating jobs, it means you are going to lose population and families and support in the tax base for things that are important, such as city services, safety, schools.

“I want to make sure all communities in Wisconsin are growing and thriving and that we are looking at the assets in each area and building on those,” Burke said.

Marshfield Clinic is an asset for both the area and the state, she said.

“We need to look at the assets we have in the state, and the Marshfield Clinic is one of those assets, and (determine) how we build on those assets to address more of the challenges,” Burke said.

The Marshfield area could be poised to become a center for biomedical industry, she said. Innovations and initiatives to foster success for new businesses and industries are among her economic development plans, Burke said.

The health care and research provided by Marshfield Clinic is important to the entire state, she said.

A role of Marshfield Clinic is to provide information so officials can create policy and legislation that will have a positive impact, said Dr. Brian Ewert, executive director of Marshfield Clinic.

“We’re always here to educate public officials and candidates about health care and the issues our patients face,” Ewert said.

During her tour of the Clinic’s facilities, Burke said she learned more about The National Farm Medicine Center, which focuses on issues related to agriculture health and safety.

“I am impressed by the work they are doing. Agriculture is so important to the Wisconsin economy,” said Burke, who added that the Clinic’s leadership in agriculture safety issues has had practical applications across the nation.

Liz Welter can be reached at 715-384-3131. Find her on Twitter as @welter_liz.